Issues
Congressional Action: Peer-to-Peer Counseling for Women Vets, Sexual Harassment, Prematurity Research, VA Hospitals, Employment Discrimination
Legislative Hearings the Veterans Serving Veterans Act; and Draft bill, to improve the productivity and management of VA health care facilities, June 13, 2018 @ 3:00. Human Trafficking— On June 6, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing, “Legislative Review of H.R. 1511, the Homeless Children and Youth Act of 2017,” which contains provisions relating to human trafficking and violence against women. The Senate Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance, and Data Security Subcommittee held a hearing, “Preventing Abuse in Olympic and Amateur Athletics: Ensuring a Safe and Secure Environment for Our Athletes.” more »
FDA: Warning Letters Address Drug Claims Made for Products Marketed as Cosmetics; Senators Feinstein and Collins Persist In Pursuing One Product's Effects
"Under the Federal Food, Drugs and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), a product intended to diagnose, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease, or to affect the structure or function of the body is classified as a drug. If such a product is not generally recognized by qualified experts as safe and effective when used as labeled, it is a “new drug” and requires an approved New Drug Application to be marketed legally in the United States. FDA issued Warning Letters, citing drug claims associated with topical skin care, hair care, and eyelash/eyebrow preparations, noted on both product labeling and Web sites. Some examples of the drug claims cited are acne treatment, cellulite reduction, stretch mark reduction, wrinkle removal, dandruff treatment, hair restoration, and eyelash growth." more »
Reprise, Bobby Kennedy, The Train: "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope"
On June 8, 1968, three days after the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, his body was carried by a funeral train from New York City to Washington, DC, for burial at Arlington Cemetery. The exhibit looks at this historical event through three distinct works. The first is a group of color photographs by commissioned photographer Paul Fusco. Taken from the funeral train, the images capture mourners who lined the railway tracks to pay their final respects. The second work features photographs and home movies by the spectators themselves. The third is a 70mm film reenactment of the funeral train's journey, inspired by Fusco's original photographs. more »
Pharmacy Gag Rule: There Might Be a Cheaper Drug, But Pharmacists Can’t Tell You That
Lawmakers from at least 30 states considered bills on pharmacy benefits managers this year. New laws have been enacted in more than a dozen states, with more awaiting governors’ signatures. Legislators were motivated to act on the issue “because it affects the ordinary consumer,” said Richard Cauchi, the health program director for the National Conference of State Legislatures... The gag clauses are inserted into contracts with pharmacies by pharmacy benefit management companies, and they prohibit druggists from telling patients or caregivers about lower prices or cheaper drug options, such as generic drugs. more »
